MODULAR TOY VEHICLE ACCESSORY MOUNTS

• US 20080254708A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ridemakerz LLC
• Original Assignee: Retail Entertainment Concepts, LLC
• Inventors: Mendillo, James V., Amadio, Donald W., Chan, Yuk Kei
• Granted Patent: US 7,717,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/95
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/28 Electric lighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A toy vehicle design having two distinctly different methods to attach accessories. Accessories that attach to the front, sides, rear and bottom of the vehicle can connect to the chassis via a tab and slot system. Strategically positioned slots on the chassis undercarriage can accept tabs that extend from those accessories. The various accessories can be interchangeable and can be easily attached and removed without the need for tools. For front, side, rear and bottom fitting accessories, slots can be located along the outer perimeter of the vehicle chassis'"'"' undercarriage. The accept tabs can extend from the various accessories. Accessories that attach to the hood, roof and truck beds, magnets are built into the underside of the vehicle body with magnets of the opposite polarity attached to the inside of the accessories. For electronic accessories, the present invention can utilize female electrical connectors that can be located along the sides of the chassis undercarriage to accept male electrical connectors attached to accessories.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle accessory mounting system comprising:

a toy vehicle body mounted on a toy vehicle chassis where said body substantially covers

a top portion, left and right side portions, and front and rear end portions of said chassis;

a first stirrup-like slot protruding from an underside surface of said chassis having a first opening and adjacent one of said left side, right side, front end or rear end portions of said chassis for receiving tabs of accessories in said first opening.

2. The mounting system as recited in claim 1, where said first stirrup-like slot is adjacent one of said left side or right side and a second stirrup-like slot protruding from the underside surface of said chassis having a second opening and disposed adjacent a same side as said first stirrup-like slot and aft of said first stirrup-like slot a predetermined distance along the same side for receiving tabs of accessories in said second opening.

3. The mounting system as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

an electrical chassis connector having an interface oriented and adapted for laterally receiving a mating electrical accessory connector.

4. The mounting system as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

an accessory having first and second tabs inserted and mounted in said first and second openings respectively of said first and second stirrup-like slots.

5. The mounting system as recited in claim 4, where said accessory has said mating electrical accessory connector electrically connected to said electrical chassis connector.

6. The mounting system as recited in claim 1, where said first stirrup-like slot is adjacent one of said front end or rear end and a second stirrup-like slot protruding from the underside surface of said chassis having a second opening and disposed adjacent a same end as said first stirrup-like slot and left of said first stirrup-like slot a predetermined distance along the same end for receiving tabs of accessories in said second opening.

7. The mounting system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

an accessory having first and second tabs inserted and mounted in said first and second openings respectively of said first and second stirrup-like slots.

8. The mounting system as recited in claim 7, where said accessory has said mating electrical accessory connector electrically connected to said electrical chassis connector.

9. The mounting system as recited in claim 8, where said chassis has a power source electrically connected to said electrical chassis connector for providing power to an accessory.

10. The mounting system as recited in claim 9, where said accessory has a light adapted to be powered through said electrical accessory connector by said power source.

11. A toy vehicle accessory mounting system comprising:

a toy vehicle body mounted on a toy vehicle chassis where said body substantially covers a top portion, left and right side portions, and front and rear end portions of said chassis;

a first stirrup-like slot protruding from an underside surface of said chassis having a first opening and adjacent one of said left side, right side, front end or rear end portions of said chassis for receiving tabs of accessories in said first opening;

a first magnet mount having a magnet with a first polarity beneath a body surface area of said body for attracting a magnetic accessory having a second magnet embedded beneath an accessory surface area of said accessory.

12. The mounting system as recited in claim 11, where the first magnet mount is a hood magnet mount and the body surface area of said body is the hood surface area.

13. The mounting system as recited in claim 11, where the first magnet mount is a roof magnet mount and the body surface area of said body is the roof surface area.

14. The mounting system as recited in claim 11, where the first magnet mount is a rear magnet mount and the body surface area of said body is the rear surface area.

15. A toy vehicle accessory mounting system comprising:

a toy vehicle body mounted on a toy vehicle chassis where said body substantially covers a top portion, left and right side portions, and front and rear end portions of said chassis;

a first magnet mount having a magnet with a first polarity beneath a body surface area of said body for attracting a magnetic accessory having a second magnet beneath an accessory surface area of said accessory.

16. The mounting system as recited in claim 15, where the first magnet mount is a hood magnet mount and the body surface area of said body is the hood surface area for attracting and mounting a hood magnetic accessory.

17. The mounting system as recited in claim 15, where the first magnet mount is a roof magnet mount and the body surface area of said body is the roof surface area for attracting a roof magnetic accessory.

18. The mounting system as recited in claim 15, where the first magnet mount is a rear magnet mount and the body surface area of said body is the rear surface area for attracting a rear magnetic accessory.

19. A method for mounting accessories to a toy vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a toy vehicle body mounted on a toy vehicle chassis where said body substantially covers a top portion, left and right side portions, and front and rear end portions of said chassis;

providing a first stirrup-like slot protruding from an underside surface of said chassis having a first opening and adjacent one of said left side, right side, front end or rear end portions of said chassis for receiving tabs of accessories in said first opening;

placing a first magnet mount having a magnet with a first polarity beneath a body surface area of said body for attracting a magnetic accessory having a second magnet embedded beneath an accessory surface area of said accessory.

20. A method for mounting accessories to a toy vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a toy vehicle body mounted on a toy vehicle chassis where said body substantially covers a top portion, left and right side portions, and front and rear end portions of said chassis;

providing a first stirrup-like slot protruding from an underside surface of said chassis having a first opening and adjacent one of said left side, right side, front end or rear end portions of said chassis for receiving tabs of accessories in said first opening.